Method for operating a navigation system for a vehicle and corresponding navigation system

ABSTRACT

In order to create a method for operating a navigation system and a navigation system for a vehicle, in particular for a motor vehicle, in which data regarding geographical positions of the vehicle are ascertained by a positioning system ( 20 ) and transmitted to a device for electronic data processing having access to a database ( 14 ) and a digital road map, and on the basis of those data the location of the vehicle on the digital road map is determined, and destination guidance instructions are outputted visually and/or acoustically to the driver of the vehicle, with which additional information can easily be stored in the navigation system and can be retrieved as necessary by the driver and/or by other persons in the vehicle and outputted via the navigation system, provision is made for additional information relevant for navigation to be loaded into the navigation system in the form of user programs which, as so-called “navlets” ( 30 ), are usable by the driver and/or by other persons present in the vehicle.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a method for operating a navigation system, and a navigation system for a vehicle, in particular for a motor vehicle, in which data regarding the geographical position are ascertained by a positioning system and transmitted to a device for electronic data processing with access to a database and a digital road map, and on the basis of those data the location of the vehicle on the digital road map is determined, and destination guidance instructions are outputted visually and/or acoustically to the driver of the vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Navigation systems for vehicles, in particular motor vehicles, and methods for operating such navigation systems, are known. These serve to determine the present geographical position of the vehicle and, as a function of a definable destination that is to be reached, to calculate the most favorable route of travel and give the driver instructions as to the route of travel.

[0003] The known navigation systems require information that is necessary for determining the present location of the vehicle and calculating the route of travel. This information includes, in particular, road layouts, turning conditions, and the like. These data are made available in the form of a database. For this purpose the database encompasses, for example, a so-called digital map that contains waypoints and/or decision points for the possible routes. It is known to maintain the database on vehicle-installed mass memories, for example a CD-ROM.

[0004] Also necessary is a positioning system that identifies the present geographical position of the vehicle. The satellite-based Global Positioning System (GPS) is known, for example, for this purpose.

[0005] A device for electronic data processing processes the position data furnished by the positioning system along with the data stored in the digital road map, and determines the present position of the vehicle. Destination guidance information corresponding to the selected destination can then be given, visually and/acoustically, to the driver by the device for electronic data processing, based on waypoints and/or decision points on a selected optimum route of travel.

[0006] The presently known navigation systems for vehicles are substantially made up of individual components having different functions. At the beginning of a trip, the driver first enters his or her desired destination into the navigation system via an input unit. A route list is then generated by a route calculation module using a database. This list is used by the destination guidance system, in combination with the vehicle position, to generate driving instructions to the driver, which are outputted in the form of graphical instructions or in natural speech.

[0007] The interaction of the individual components is permanently defined in this context. For example, once the route list has been calculated, it is modified only if the driver so wishes or if the destination guidance system detects that the previously calculated route has been departed from.

[0008] The type of output is also permanently defined. A user cannot, for example, replace the symbolic images that are normally available with his or her own symbols, or add additional information to them.

[0009] It is moreover difficult to incorporate additional functionality into the system. There exist, for example, travel guides on data media, usually on CDs, which can be used instead of the data medium for the otherwise usual digital map, and which contain not only the minimum requisite data but also additional information, for example regarding places of interest. This information can then be retrieved via the navigation device. This information retrieval is accomplished, however, via the interface defined by the navigation device, so that the configuration leeway for the human-machine interface is small. Since the otherwise usual digital map is moreover replaced by the travel guide, it must also contain all the data relevant for navigation. The production of such travel guides is thus difficult, and there are only a few suppliers. Local travel guides whose subject matter is, for example, only a single city are practically never created.

[0010] A further deficit exists in the area of georeferencing. For example, it would be desirable if a destination, e.g. a parking garage, made available in electronic form an “approach description” that could be played back on the navigation device. It would thereby be possible to reach destinations that are not contained, or not correctly contained, in the map. For example, one could reach destinations located on streets for which no house number information is available, or entrances to buildings that are not recorded (parking garage entrances, hotel lobbies, etc.). Extensions for georeferencing based on the transmission of data do exist at present, but because of the varying map formats of different suppliers, they are difficult to implement.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION, OBJECT, ACHIEVEMENT, ADVANTAGES

[0011] It is the object of the present invention to create a method for operating a navigation system for a vehicle, and a navigation system, of the generic type with which additional information can easily be stored in the navigation system and can be retrieved as necessary by the driver and/or by other persons present in the vehicle and can be outputted via the navigation system.

[0012] This object is achieved, according to the present invention, by way of a method of the kind cited above having the features recited in claim 1.

[0013] The fact that additional information relevant for navigation is loaded into the navigation device in the form of user programs, and is stored as so-called “navlets,” advantageously makes it possible easily to store additional information in the navigation system that can be retrieved as necessary by the driver and/or by other persons present in the vehicle, and can be outputted via the navigation system.

[0014] Since the navlets have access to the output units, the prerequisite is created for advantageously modifying the human-machine interface in the navigation system. For example, it is possible to make available a navlet which permits input of the destination in a novel form. After the user has confirmed the destination, it is transmitted to the navigation system and the navlet terminates.

[0015] A further advantage of the invention is the fact that the navlets do not by any means always need to be associated with a (navigable) map datum. For example, a hotel chain could make available a navlet that allows access to all the chain's hotels in Germany. Not only could this directory contain comprehensive information about location, category, and number of rooms, but views and short video clips could also make it easier to select a hotel. Once the driver decides on a hotel, however, only the address of that hotel is forwarded to the navigation system, and the navlet terminates.

[0016] Since the navlets are programs, it is advantageously possible for control over the navigation procedure to be accomplished by way of navlets. For example, a navlet may contain a tourist guide for a city. When the navlet is started, it transfers the first place being visited to the navigation system, which then guides the user. The navlet is meanwhile capable of outputting information about the first destination via the screen or the audio channel. Once the first destination has been reached, the navlet can transfer the next destination to the navigation system. These operations can be continued indefinitely until the final trip destination has been reached.

[0017] Another advantage of the invention is based on the fact that the navlets do not need to know the internal map format of the corresponding navigation device. It is entirely sufficient if data—in particular addresses (e.g. in city/street/number format) or coordinates (for example, in WGS 84 format—are interchanged via a defined interface with the navigation device. Since the navlets are programs, the possibility advantageously exists of querying the type of navigation device and thereby effectively utilizing device-specific and/or data-specific advantages of the particular navigation device.

[0018] A further advantage may be seen in the fact that georeferencing of objects is simplified by the use of navlets. For example, a variety of concepts allowing georeferencing to be described by means of data are presently being discussed. When a destination georeference of this kind is loaded into the navigation system according to the present invention, the latter is thus capable of calculating the appropriate route even if the destination is not itself contained in the map base. The invention moreover makes even further capabilities available. For example, it is possible for navlets to guide actively to the destination. On the one hand, the capabilities of the navigation system can be used; on the other hand, navlets can contain their own driving instructions in the form of spoken texts, images, and videos. What essentially exists, therefore, is the possibility of individual destination guidance that is tailored to the needs of the particular customer.

[0019] It is additionally advantageous that the navlets contain a mechanism for location-specific notification. Certain functions of the navlet can be called up by the navigation system when the vehicle is in the vicinity of a defined point or within a region (state, district, city, neighborhood, etc.), or when an address (instantaneous position, instantaneous destination) matches a given address. When a hotel is inputted via the navigation system, for example, it is possible for a corresponding navlet to start automatically and provide assistance. In another scenario, a small icon (with distance indication) can appear automatically on the screen when the vehicle approaches a restaurant or fast-food outlet. In a further scenario, a third-party supplier can offer a navlet that contains (current) detour recommendations for the entire country. As soon as the vehicle approaches a relevant city, the navlet is automatically started and outputs the respective recommendations.

[0020] Viewed as a whole, the critical advantage of the invention lies in the fact that all the information relevant for navigation is loaded into the navigation device in the form of user programs. The user programs, as so-called navlets, have a function similar to the platform-independent applets used in conjunction with Internet browsers. An essential difference thus exists as compared to current developments of navigation systems, in which information is loaded into the navigation device only in the form of data.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, provision is made for the functions of the navigation section to be used by the navlets via interfaces of the navigation system.

[0022] A further preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the functions of the navigation section used by the navlets are, in particular, those such as

[0023] querying and setting destinations and intermediate destinations by way of destination addresses or destination coordinates;

[0024] querying the present position as text or coordinates;

[0025] querying the current route list;

[0026] querying the estimated driving time to the next (interim) destination;

[0027] functions for setting parameters, for example the times for periodic calls or criteria for geometric notification;

[0028] querying the type of navigation section and the revision status of the firmware, the type and revision status of the database (map), etc.

[0029] Provision is further made, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, for specific functions to be executed by each navlet, of which one portion of the functions is directed toward the user's particular requirements and the other portion of the functions is defined as standard.

[0030] The object according to the present invention is further achieved by way of a navigation system of the aforesaid kind having the features characterized in claim 12. The fact that the navigation system is made up of two main units, of which the first main unit is a navigation section having the components of a navigation device, the navigation device being self-sufficiently functional, and the second main unit is a device section for the execution of user programs, which is connected via interfaces to the navigation section, advantageously makes it possible to provide a navigation system with which, in simple fashion, additional information can be stored in the navigation system and can be retrieved as necessary by the driver and/or by other persons present in the vehicle, and can be outputted via the navigation system.

[0031] Further preferred embodiments of the invention are evident from the features recited in the dependent claims.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] The invention will be explained in more detail below in an exemplified embodiment with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0033]FIG. 1 is a schematic depiction of a navigation system of the existing art; and

[0034]FIG. 2 is a schematic depiction of the navigation system according to the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0035]FIG. 1 schematically shows a navigation system for a motor vehicle as commonly known at present and as used, in ordinary configuration, in a motor vehicle. The navigation system is made up of several individual components that are in functional connection with one another.

[0036] The navigation system substantially these components: database 14, route list 16, route calculation module 18, positioning system 20, and destination guidance unit 22.

[0037] The navigation system further encompasses an input unit 24 into which the driver enters his or her destination before beginning the trip; and, as output units, a visual output unit 26, for example a display or the like, and an acoustic output unit 28, for example a loudspeaker or the like.

[0038] The navigation system according to the present invention is depicted schematically in FIG. 2. The navigation system is associated with a respective vehicle. It is made up of two main units 10, 12 that are connected via two interfaces 34, 36. The one main unit is a navigation section 10 having the components of a conventional navigation device, the navigation device being self-sufficiently functional. The other main unit is a device section 12 for the execution of user programs.

[0039] Navigation section 10 of the navigation system according to the present invention corresponds, in its general basic construction, to the navigation system of generally known design depicted in FIG. 1. Navigation section 10 accordingly encompasses substantially a database 14, a route list 16, a route calculation module 18, a positioning system 20, and a destination guidance unit 22. Also part of navigation section 10 are an input unit 24 for operation of the navigation system, and a visual output unit 26 for the output of visual instructions and information, and an acoustic output unit 28 for the output of acoustic instructions and information.

[0040] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, provision is made for device section 12 of the navigation system to be made up substantially of a user memory 38 and a virtual machine 32. Advantageously, navlets 30 can be stored in user memory 38 in various quantities. Device section 12 of the navigation system is connected respectively via two interfaces 34, 36 to navigation section 10.

[0041] In contrast to operating system updates or firmware updates, navlets 30 advantageously are not relevant to the actual operating system of the navigation system. Instead, these are applications that are executed within an operating system or a virtual machine 32, and that have access to high-level functions of the navigation systems. The advantage of the invention is thus that a large group of persons has the ability to program navlets 30 and make them available. The invention makes it possible to achieve, with navlets 30, advantages for navigation systems in vehicles similar to those of applets within the Internet.

[0042] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, in addition to interfaces 34, 36 that are present, further interfaces (not depicted) for data transfer, in particular via infrared or radio, that can be activated and used by navlets 30, can be provided.

[0043] In the navigation system, respectively, user memory 38 is connected via a first interface 34 to the navigation device, and via a second interface 36 to input unit 24 and to visual and acoustic output units 26, 28.

[0044] It is particularly advantageous that navlets 30 are written in a platform-independent programming language, preferably in the “Java” programming language. As a result, navlets 30 can be used flexibly in navigation systems.

[0045] Each navlet 30 is advantageously configured in such a way that it has internal data and functions. In addition to the internal data and functions, each navlet 30 has standard minimum functions. The standard minimum functions include functions such as

[0046] initialization function;

[0047] delete function;

[0048] start function;

[0049] function for periodic calls;

[0050] text notification;

[0051] geometric notification;

[0052] further notification functions.

[0053] A preferred embodiment of the invention provides for navlets 30 to be loadable into user memory 38 in different ways. A number of variant embodiments can be provided for this purpose.

[0054] One possible variant is that navlets 30 are loadable into user memory 38 by way of a memory medium, preferably RAM, flash ROM, mini hard drive, CD-ROM, or DVD.

[0055] Another variant lies in the fact that navlets 30 are loadable into user memory 38 by wire-conducted or wireless transfer, for example infrared or radio, from a PC, laptop, or PDA.

[0056] As a further variant, navlets 30 are loadable into user memory 38 by transfer from a server via broadcast, for example DAB, or individual communication, for example GSM.

[0057] The navigation system depicted schematically in FIG. 2 is operated in accordance with the method according to the present invention explained below.

[0058] The method according to the present invention provides for additional information relevant for navigation to be loaded into the navigation system in the form of user programs that, as navlets 30, are usable by the driver and/or by other persons present in the vehicle.

[0059] Provision is advantageously made for the functions of navigation section 10 to be used by navlets 30 via interfaces 34, 36 of the navigation system. The functions of navigation section 10 used by navlets 30 are, in particular, those such as

[0060] querying and setting destinations and intermediate destinations by way of destination addresses or destination coordinates;

[0061] querying the present position as text or coordinates;

[0062] querying the current route list 16;

[0063] querying the estimated driving time to the next (interim) destination;

[0064] functions for setting parameters, for example the times for periodic calls or criteria for geometric notification;

[0065] querying the type of navigation section 10 and the revision status of the firmware, the type and revision status of the database (map), etc.

[0066] Each navlet 30 advantageously executes predefined functions. One portion of the functions of navlet 30 is directed toward the user's particular requirements, i.e. toward the requirements of the driver of the vehicle and optionally other vehicle occupants. Another portion of the functions of navlet 30 is defined as standard.

[0067] Each navlet 30 has an initialization function that is called up when navlet 30 is installed for the first time on the navigation system. This function can advantageously be used to explain the manner of operation of navlet 30 to the user, or to inquire as to the user's preferences.

[0068] Each navlet 30 further has a delete function which is called up when navlet 30 is removed.

[0069] A start function, which is called up once when the vehicle is started or when the navigation system is initiated, is defined as a further function for each navlet 30.

[0070] Each navlet 30 furthermore has a function for periodic calls, which are called up at regular time intervals and are used by navlet 30 to update internal data.

[0071] Provision is also made for each navlet 30 to have a text notification function which is called up when a match or partial match exists between a given text and the instantaneous destination address, intermediate destination address, address of the instantaneous position, or an entry in route list 16; different notification functions can be defined for various criteria.

[0072] Each navlet 30 furthermore has a geometric notification function which is called up when a predefined geometric criterion is met. Geometric criteria can be, for example, the distance to a given point or the location within a specific region (state, district, city, neighborhood).

[0073] Each navlet 30 furthermore has further notification functions, such as arrival of a Traffic Message Channel (TMC) message or a message of another service, for example GSM.

[0074] The sale of navlets 30 can advantageously be effected via conventional media, for example CD-ROM and DVD, or via the Internet. It is also conceivable for companies to make navlets 30 available at no cost on their Internet home page, in order to facilitate access by their customers and/or to combine vehicle navigation with advertising. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for operating a navigation system for a vehicle, in particular for a motor vehicle, in which data regarding geographical positions of the vehicle are ascertained by a positioning system (20) and transmitted to a device for electronic data processing having access to a database (14) and a digital road map, and on the basis of those data the location of the vehicle on the digital road map is determined, and destination guidance instructions are outputted visually and/or acoustically to the driver of the vehicle, wherein additional information relevant for navigation is loaded into the navigation system in the form of user programs which, as so-called “navlets” (30), are usable by the driver and/or by other persons present in the vehicle.
 2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the functions of the navigation section (10) are used by the navlets (30) via interfaces (34, 36) of the navigation system.
 3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the navlets (30) use, in particular, such functions of the navigation section (10) as querying and setting destinations and intermediate destinations by way of destination addresses or destination coordinates; querying the present position as text or coordinates; querying the current route list (16); querying the estimated driving time to the next (interim) destination; functions for setting parameters, for example the times for periodic calls or criteria for geometric notification; querying the type of navigation section (10) and the revision status of the firmware, the type and revision status of the database (map), etc.
 4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein specific functions are executed by each navlet (30), of which some functions are directed toward the user's particular requirements and the others are provided as default setting.
 5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein each navlet (30) has an initialization function that is called up when the navlet (30) is installed for the first time on the navigation system.
 6. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein each navlet (30) has a delete function which is called up when the navlet (30) is removed.
 7. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein each navlet (30) has a start function which is called up once when the vehicle is started or when the navigation is begun.
 8. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein each navlet (30) has a function for periodic calls, which are called up at regular time intervals and are used by the navlet (30) to update internal data.
 9. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein each navlet (30) has a text notification function which is called up when a match or partial match exists between a given text and the instantaneous destination address, intermediate destination address, address of the instantaneous position, or an entry in the route list (16), different notification functions being able to be defined for various criteria.
 10. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein each navlet (30) has a geometric notification function which is called up when a predefined geometric criterion is met, in particular a criterion such as the distance to a given point or the location within a specific region.
 11. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein each navlet (30) has further notification functions, such as arrival of a Traffic Message Channel (TMC) message or a message of another service, for example GSM.
 12. A navigation system for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, having a positioning system (20), a device for electronic data processing that has access to a database (14) having a digital road map, an input unit (24) and output units (26, 28) for visual and/or acoustic destination guidance instructions, wherein the navigation system is made up of two main units (10, 12), of which the one main unit is a navigation section (10) having the components of a navigation device, the navigation device being self-sufficiently functional, and the other main unit is a device section (12) for the execution of user programs, which is connected via interfaces (34, 36) to the navigation section (10).
 13. The navigation system as recited in claim 12, wherein the navigation section (10) of the navigation system is made up substantially of a database (14), a route list (16), a route calculation module (18), a positioning system (20), a destination guidance unit (22), an input unit (24) for operating the navigation system, and one acoustic output unit (28) each for the output of acoustic instructions and information and a visual output unit (26) for the output of visual instructions and information.
 14. The navigation system as recited in claims 12 and 13, wherein the device section (10) of the navigation system is made up substantially of a user memory (38) and a virtual machine (32).
 15. The navigation system as recited in claims 12 through 14, wherein the navlets (30) are able to be stored in the user memory (38).
 16. The navigation system as recited in claims 12 through 15, wherein the device section (12) of the navigation system is connected preferably via two interfaces (34, 36) to the navigation section (10).
 17. The navigation system as recited in claim 16, wherein, respectively, the user memory (38) is connected via a first interface (34) to the navigation device, and the virtual machine (32) via a second interface (36) to the input unit (24) and the output units (26, 28).
 18. The navigation system as recited in claims 12 through 17, wherein, in addition to the interfaces (34, 36) that are present, additional interfaces are provided for data transfer, in particular via infrared or radio, that can be activated and used by the navlets (30).
 19. The navigation system as recited in claim 12, wherein the navlets (30) are preferably written in a platform-independent programming language.
 20. The navigation system as recited in claim 19, wherein the navlets (30) are preferably written in the “Java” programming language.
 21. The navigation system as recited in claims 12 through 20, wherein each navlet (30) has internal data and functions.
 22. The navigation system as recited in claim 21, wherein each navlet (30), in addition to the internal data and functions, has standard minimum functions.
 23. The navigation system as recited in claim 22, wherein the standard minimum functions of the navlets (30) are functions such as initialization function; delete function; start function; function for periodic call-ups; text notification; geometric notification; further notification functions.
 24. The navigation system as recited in one of the foregoing claims, wherein the navlets (30) are loadable into the user memory (38) in different ways.
 25. The navigation system as recited in claim 24, wherein the navlets (30) are loadable into the user memory (38) by way of a memory medium, preferably RAM, flash ROM, mini hard drive, CD-ROM, or DVD.
 26. The navigation system as recited in claim 24, wherein the navlets (30) are loadable into the user memory (38) by wire-conducted or wireless transfer, for example infrared or radio, from a PC, laptop, or PDA.
 27. The navigation system as recited in claim 24, wherein the navlets (30) are loadable into the user memory (38) by transfer from a server via broadcast, for example DAB, or individual communication, for example GSM. 